The hottest Commerce Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Shopping as a "hobby"

Maybe Baby • 602 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🎭️ Culture Fashion Lifestyle Art Commerce Trends
  1. Shopping can be seen as a fun hobby for many people. It mixes creativity with the thrill of finding new items.
  2. There is a debate about shopping being a form of art or just a big money-making business. This makes people think about what fashion really means.
  3. The way we view shopping affects how we think about style and trends in our society. It's important to understand both sides of this conversation.

🎓 On the origins of the merchant class

Obsidian Iceberg • 59 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
💾 History Trade Commerce Colonization Economics Civilizations
  1. Merchants used to work for kings and leaders, getting luxury goods for them. Over time, trade changed to focus on profit rather than just serving powerful rulers.
  2. As trade expanded, merchants started catering to smaller clients. This shift led to more diverse trading networks and a wider variety of goods available.
  3. Cities grew as places of commerce, not just government. Instead of being mainly for rulers, urban areas became important for trade and economic activity.

Ruptures in the Mediascape: What Next?

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 66 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing Media Technology Strategy Commerce
  1. The way we create media is changing. With new tools, creativity is becoming more personalized and can connect better with people, making storytelling more important than before.
  2. Conversations are now a key way we interact with media. This means we’ll start relying more on chat and voice rather than just searching for information like in the past.
  3. Brands will still be important, but they'll need to evolve. They should combine human emotions with smart technology to create strong connections with people.

Long Take: Growing financial engagement with messaging in Coinbase Wallet, Venmo, and the super apps

The Fintech Blueprint • 904 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Finance Technology Engagement Commerce Messaging
  1. The intersection of finance and technology has led to innovative ways of mixing attention, commerce, and finance.
  2. Financial services are evolving beyond just being transactional machines to increase user engagement and improve customer retention.
  3. Developing a persistent digital identity for users and emphasizing interoperability and privacy are crucial in the evolving world of Web3.

The Pace of Change Depends on Your Gaze

Cybernetic Forests • 179 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Commerce Infrastructure Governance Culture
  1. The speed of technological change is determined by where we focus our attention. Slowing down to understand the structures in place is key.
  2. AI hype often moves at the pace of fashion, while AI infrastructure evolves slowly. It's important to differentiate between new trends and substantial advancements.
  3. Governance, infrastructure, and culture play crucial roles in shaping AI's future. Participating in shaping these aspects can have a significant impact on the development and use of AI.
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the product

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Customers Workshops Commerce Menu
  1. In the restaurant industry, the customers are considered the product, not the food.
  2. There is a trend of new restaurants having similar setups and menus, which can make the customer experience less unique.
  3. The analogy of customers as 'workpieces' in workshops questions what happens when all establishments start to look the same.

Lutnick Goes to Washington

Net Interest • 8 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Finance Commerce Investment Banking Economics
  1. Interdealer brokers connect traders without revealing who they are. This helps big companies make deals quietly, without affecting the market price.
  2. Even in a world dominated by technology, many traders still value personal interaction and market insights from human brokers. These brokers can find the best prices and handle complex trades in ways machines can't.
  3. Howard Lutnick's story is compelling, especially given his background and experiences. His role as a leader in interdealer broking may influence his approach as Commerce Secretary.

Apple Advance Commerce API, Highnote $90M, Perplexity Sonar

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 28 Jan 25
🕹 Technology APIs Software AI Fintech Commerce
  1. Apple launched a new Advanced Commerce API to help developers manage in-app purchases more easily. This API supports apps with large content libraries and complex subscription needs.
  2. Highnote raised $90 million in funding to improve its card issuance platform, aiming to streamline payment processes for businesses. The company is expanding its offerings to make payments easier for small and large enterprises.
  3. Perplexity introduced an API called Sonar that integrates generative AI search capabilities into applications. This tool promises to provide accurate answers and is aimed at making AI-driven tools more accessible for developers.

Is The World A Cake With Systems Thinking

WriMoReMo • 7 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Nature Culture Governance Infrastructure Commerce
  1. The world can be viewed as a layered cake with different levels representing nature, culture, governance, and more. Each layer interacts with and influences the others, impacting global dynamics.
  2. Nature plays a significant role in shaping geopolitics and human tendencies, influencing interactions between nations and communities.
  3. Cultures evolve and spread through regions, impacting belief systems, governance structures, societal outcomes, and even legislative decisions.

The Digital Workforce Revolution: AI Agents as the Next Evolution of Global Commerce

domsteil • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Commerce Technology AI Global Trade Operations
  1. AI Agents are like digital workers that can do tasks on their own. This means businesses can spend less time on routine work and focus more on innovation.
  2. These agents work seamlessly with existing software and platforms, making them a powerful tool for improving efficiency across various industries. They help businesses handle orders, customer issues, and more without needing human input.
  3. The rise of AI Agents marks a big shift in how businesses operate. Instead of just using software, companies can now expect direct results, making it easier to scale and improve customer experiences.